Where has this year gone? It’s so true, the older you get, the faster the years seem to pass by. To be honest, when it comes to ageing, I haven’t really been thinking about my golf performance, it’s more about the best anti-ageing creams and dressing appropriately – not that I would, but nobody likes anyone that looks like mutton dressed up as lamb!
So, it’s no fun getting older, especially when you realise your age is having an impact on your lack of distance on the golf course. This happened to single figure golfer Carly Cummins who was left out of the county first team due to a lack of length compared with other team members. Carly is only in her early 40s, but she took it on the chin and decided to throw herself into a training regime to regain the yards she’s lost.
The good news, as you can read in this article, if you have the inclination, whatever your age, there are exercises you can do to develop your strength and mobility to improve your performance.
Carly sought the advice of specialist golf personal trainer Jamie Greaves and he says that with the right program you can make physical transformations to increase your driving distance, no matter your age. The best part of his advice is that all it takes is 10 minutes a day at home. Carly’s not yet back to the distance she hit in her 20s, however, in just a few months she’s gained extra yards.
Golf is hard work, isn't it? There's just so much to think about! To perform at our best, we need to be the complete package: the right technique, a decent level of fitness, and a strong mental game. Unlike Carly, I'm not trying to qualify for a county team next year, but I am determined to improve this winter. Mainly because I want to be less frustrated and enjoy my golf more when the season rolls around.
As Christmas is just around the corner, I know a golf training aid is not the most exciting gift, and you’d probably rather receive that lovely new golf outfit you’ve had your eye on, but there are so many gadgets on the market that can help you improve.
Last year, I had golf coach Emma Booth get four of her pupils to test some training aids, and one lady was completely sold on the PGM golf swing training ball. You use the neck lanyard to place the inflatable ball between your forearms. If you struggle with the dreaded 'chicken wing' where your lead arm disconnects from your body, leaving a big gap between your elbows, this ball is designed to fix that common fault. You might lose the ball at first, but once you get used to it, you'll finally feel that correct impact position. At just £9.99 on Amazon, this is a brilliant stocking filler, so maybe you'll be lucky enough to find the ball and a new golf outfit waiting for you on Christmas morning!
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly.
By Alison Root, Women's Editor Golf Monthly.
